April 7-9, 2022 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Communication Strategies to Promote Comprehensive Well-being
Communication Strategies to Promote Comprehensive Well-being
Abstract: Federal Government of Nigeria's Media Strategies during COVID-19 Lockdown: Content Analysis of The Guardian and Nation
ABSTRACT This study investigated communication strategies adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria during the first wave lockdown to promote citizens health well being and the local newspapers’ coverage of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic disease. Two theories upon which this study is anchored are : Social Responsibility Theory and Agenda Setting Theory. Over thirty other empirical studies were espoused under relevant literature. Two prominent and daily circulated national newspapers: The Nation and The Guardian were chosen and content analyzed to determine the depth of coverage: size of spaces allocated to stories, positions of stories, sources of editorials, form and contents of the stories, speakers and actors interviewed and frequency allocated to Covid-19 news between 1st of December, 2019 to April 30th, 2020. The study adopted quantitative method and content analysed two national well circulated newspapers. A total of 304 editions of both newspapers were studied for health and whole wellness stories and frequency distribution table used to present the data. The study covered five months period between December 1st 2019 to April 30th, 2020 at the peak of the pandemic lockdown and first wave period. The data analyzed revealed that 6 by 2 size and below constituted majority of the sizes, 62% in The Guardian and 50% in Nation allocated to Covid - 19 stories in the newspapers. Sources of stories reported in the newspapers were press conferences 18.2% in The Guardian and 22.5% in the Nation; press releases 16.7% in The Guardian and 22.8% in Nation and reporters’ analysis 27% in The Guardian and 20.4% in the Nation. To promote comprehensive healthy well being of the Nigerian citizens, both the Federal Government/ NCDC and Ministry of Health are the major actors and speakers interviewed on Covid-19 news by reporters on health policies. The press provided adequate coverage and assisted the government and health authorities to create awareness and mobilized citizens during the lock-down. Communication strategies adopted by the government included : press conferences/ releases and health officials granted interviews, promoting social distancing practice, washing of hands with soap and water, use of alcohol based sanitizers and wearing of face masks to curtail the spread of the virus. Othe strategies were : visitation to media organisations, and meetings with Nigerian Guild of Editors. As gatekeepers: editors, sub-editors and reporters demonstrated social responsibility in raising public awareness and consciousness about the pandemic. The study recommends that to deepen government efforts, communication strategies, health policies and activities to combat Covid -19 pandemic, editors should publish more interviews with health authorities and victims to dispel fake news and misinformation about Covid -19 and vaccines; editorial boards should take stands on health issues and wholesome wellness; health desks in newsrooms should provide adequate coverage of government communication strategies and policies, and not neglect other diseases emphasised apart from Covid -19. Government and the press should not wait for another health crisis or disease outbreak, but act urgently to set the agenda for a healthy Nigeria. Key words: Communication Strategy, Covid-19, Newspapers, Press coverage